Importing a CSV file into JibberJobber

Importing a CSV file into JibberJobber So, heres Part II of how to import, following up on creating the CSV. Note that this is a Premium features, but everyone can do this in the first 14 days (so do it right away!). Go to Tools, click on Import/Export. On the next page youll see that it defaults to the Import Contacts tab. Browse to the CSV file that you had created (maybe on your desktop?). If the file has a Header (I think all Outlook exports do) then click the Has Header box youll see why on the next step. The next screen has all of the data, and there are some import things to note here. First, any drop down that says Choose One WILL NOT import. So, perhaps the Middle Name field isnt important, but make sure that the Title/Job Title fields are matched up! Scroll across the entire screen to see what you are actually going to import, and make sure it looks good before you click Import Contacts. Note, you are not done yet! Once you are certain it all looks good you can click the Import Contacts button. Note that there are checkboxes on the left of each record (person). You can UNCHECK the ones that you dont want to import. You should have them all in your Network List Panel now. There, go invite someone to lunch ?? Importing a CSV file into JibberJobber So, heres Part II of how to import, following up on creating the CSV. Note that this is a Premium features, but everyone can do this in the first 14 days (so do it right away!). Go to Tools, click on Import/Export. On the next page youll see that it defaults to the Import Contacts tab. Browse to the CSV file that you had created (maybe on your desktop?). If the file has a Header (I think all Outlook exports do) then click the Has Header box youll see why on the next step. The next screen has all of the data, and there are some import things to note here. First, any drop down that says Choose One WILL NOT import. So, perhaps the Middle Name field isnt important, but make sure that the Title/Job Title fields are matched up! Scroll across the entire screen to see what you are actually going to import, and make sure it looks good before you click Import Contacts. Note, you are not done yet! Once you are certain it all looks good you can click the Import Contacts button. Note that there are checkboxes on the left of each record (person). You can UNCHECK the ones that you dont want to import. You should have them all in your Network List Panel now. There, go invite someone to lunch ?? Importing a CSV file into JibberJobber So, heres Part II of how to import, following up on creating the CSV. Note that this is a Premium features, but everyone can do this in the first 14 days (so do it right away!). Go to Tools, click on Import/Export. On the next page youll see that it defaults to the Import Contacts tab. Browse to the CSV file that you had created (maybe on your desktop?). If the file has a Header (I think all Outlook exports do) then click the Has Header box youll see why on the next step. The next screen has all of the data, and there are some import things to note here. First, any drop down that says Choose One WILL NOT import. So, perhaps the Middle Name field isnt important, but make sure that the Title/Job Title fields are matched up! Scroll across the entire screen to see what you are actually going to import, and make sure it looks good before you click Import Contacts. Note, you are not done yet! Once you are certain it all looks good you can click the Import Contacts button. Note that there are checkboxes on the left of each record (person). You can UNCHECK the ones that you dont want to import. You should have them all in your Network List Panel now. There, go invite someone to lunch ??

How Hard is it to Get a Job at Google (Infographic)

How Hard is it to Get a Job at Google (Infographic) How Hard is it to Get a Job at Google? (With Steps To Do It) Misc Tips / https://www.edenscott.com/blog If youre wondering how hard is it to get a job at Google, Im going to share what I know based on my experience as a tech recruiter.Landing any job at Google is tough because they hire the best of the best, and they receive a TON of applicants. (This is the main reason its so hard to get a job at Google).But it can be done. And if you want to get hired by Google, make sure you read until the end because Im also going to share my top tips for how you can get a job at Google. (Its not easy, but you can overcome the odds by taking a few specific steps).First, heres exactly how hard is it to get a job at GoogleHow Hard is it to Get a Job at Google?It is difficult to get a job at Google because of their quality standards and the high number of applications they receive per year. For example, INC reported that Google receives 2 million job applications per year, which means its more competitive to get into than Harvard University. However, several thousand pe ople do get hired by Google each year, so it can be done!(In the second half of this article Ill share how to get a job at Google, so keep reading).First, lets look in more detail at why its so hard to get a job at Google.Google wants to hire brilliant, motivated, accomplished people. Theres no sugar-coating it.Whether youre applying to be a software engineer or work in a different area within Google, they only want to hire the best of the best.Theyre going to look at what companies youve worked for in the past, and are unlikely to hire you and interview you if youre coming from no-name companies that arent tackling big challenges like Google is.Theyre going to look at your educational background, especially if youre looking to get a job as a Software Engineer or Programmer at Google.(While there are many dev bootcamps and quick ways to learn programming, Google is still going to favor a traditional 4-year Computer Science degree or more for many of their engineering positions, da ta engineering roles, etc.Google can be picky because of how many applications they receive.Because Google receives 2 million applications a year, theyre able to be very selective across all teams, and for all types of roles from engineering positions to customer support.No matter what type of job you apply for at Google, youre going to be going up against people coming out of other great technology companies (Tesla, Microsoft, Facebook, etc.)Youll be going against people with very impressive educational backgrounds, too. Google receives hundreds of applicants from graduates of Harvard, MIT, and other top tech/computer science programs.However, you CAN get a job at Google, and its still worth applying if you think youd like to work there.In the next part of this article, Im going to share how YOU can maximize your chance of getting a job at Google.How to Get a Job at GoogleNow that weve looked at how hard it is to get a job at Google, I want to give you the steps to follow that wil l give you the best chance at overcoming the odds!Networking is your best chanceFirst, your best chance is being introduced by someone in your network. Thats not even a guarantee youll get interviewed, but networking is always the most efficient way to get a job because companies trust you more when youre recommended to them.So start by looking through your contacts (ideally on LinkedIn because you can see their current and past employers there), and see who has a current or past connection to Google.The best way to approach someone you havent spoken with in a while is to ask a question. Never ask for a big favor upfront; thats going to get your message deleted.Youd want to ask for something very small at first, like this: Hi Jeff I saw you joined Google! Thats amazing. Congrats on getting the job. Im thinking of starting a job search myself. Are there one or two things you did that helped you get Googles attention?Or heres another example: Hi Amy how have you been since leaving X YZ company? I had a quick question: Im starting a job search soon and am going to try to get on Googles radar (along with a number of other top tech companies). I know you used to work in HR for Google, though. Are there one or two things a candidate can do to stand out to Google before applying? Anything you can share would be great.Now ideally, youd like someone to offer to introduce you to a hiring manager at Google, or recommend you for a job. But you never want to start the conversation by asking for such a big favor.And yes thats a HUGE favor. Youre asking for someone to stick their neck out and vouch for you.So start small like the example networking scripts above. Thats how to get a job at Google via networking.If you want more help with this, I share more tips and examples in this article on how to find your dream job.Write the perfect resumeA generic resume isnt going to get you an interview at Google. Given how hard it is to get a job at Google, you need a resume thats p erfectly tailored to the job youre applying for.Also make sure youre talking about what youve accomplished in past roles, not just what you were responsible for.This is a huge difference and is one of the top resume mistakes I see as a recruiter.If you want more help writing a stand-out resume, here are some resources you should read to get started:How to write great resume bulletsHow to write your resume work historyGuide to every section on your resumeBe persistentBecause of how hard it is to get hired by Google, you might not succeed on your first try.So be persistent. Apply again in six months if you dont get them to notice you right now.And apply even when youre currently employed elsewhere. Companies are more attracted to candidates that are currently working (not fair, but true!)This article explains the benefits of looking for a job while employed.So if you try to get a job at Google, dont quite succeed, and accept another position you can still apply for more jobs at Google in six months or a year.Just because they didnt like you for one position at one point in time doesnt mean they wont consider you in the future.Maybe they thought your resume was pretty good, but they just got a few other applications that seemed like a better fit.Or maybe they needed someone with more experience, but the team you applied to has grown and now needs more junior-level people.You never know, so your best course of action for how to get a job at Google is to keep applying, keep networking, and not just give up after one or two applications.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 4 Ways to Handle Your Workplace Jealousies

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 4 Ways to Handle Your Workplace Jealousies Most of us have had feelings of jealousy or envy in our lives, but nowhere may it be more difficult to deal with than in the workplace. Of courseyoure supposed to wish Jim well on his new promotion even though you worked hard for it and you believe Jim is a slacker. And, well, sure youdliketo be friendlier to your colleague Maggie, but shes so darned organized it gives you a headache, especially when the boss is always giving her an award for it. No one likes to admit theyre jealous or envious of a co-worker. After all, didnt we leave suchpetty feelingsbehind on the playground? Or at least reserve them for the skinny woman who lives next door and can eat anything she wants? The problem is the difficult economy has made our stress and inand insecurity more pronounced, which can often exacerbate the jealousy we feel on the job. We become more emotionally sensitive, and find ourselves battling the green-eyed monster in our cubicle. Suddenly, it seems as if a co-workers off-handed comment about how your messy desk is a health threat doesnt seem like a friendly quip but adirect insult. Remarks even joking comments are taken personally and negatively. Psychologists say we often feel jealous when we sense someone has taken something away from us that we were attached to emotionally. You may have really been counting on a promotion, for example, so you may react in anger or hurt when you dont get it. Jealousy really hits when we feel something is unfair, they explain. So, you may feel jealous when a colleague gets a new project that you feel you deserved because you have more seniority, and because you had already envisioned the team (read more here)

How to Make Your Employees More Creative at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Make Your Employees More Creative at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career In every type of job, there is always room for creativity and innovation. It is not only art or technology that needs to be creative and innovative. Even in accounting there are ways to be more creative. For example; you can make more creative presentations. For this reason, if you want your employees to be more creative, try the below recommendations at work. Hire Diverse People: Different people with different backgrounds see things from a different perspective. As a result, when they are trying to solve something, they come up with different solutions. Therefore, if you hire similar people with similar education and similar cultural values, you can miss out on different options. For this reason, try to hire individuals who come from different places and who are at different places in their lives to increase creativity in your company. Get Out of the Office: Especially if the weather is nice, then, take your team outside of the office for a meeting or for brainstorming. You don’t need to take them far away. You can even go to the parking lot and sit on the grass. Having some fresh air clears your mind and helps you think better. Thus, your employees can get more creative and find out new ideas. Seating Plan: Have an open seating plan in the office. Also, try to have a seating plan where different groups will engage with each other. Some workplaces require their employees to sit at different desks everyday so they can meet with new people, learn from them and share their knowledge with them. Hence, collaboration and creativity among employees rise. Try Stand-Up Meetings: When you are standing-up, you are more focused on the topic because you don’t get distracted from computers or phones. When you are more focused, the meeting time becomes shorter allowing you to use that extra time for something else. Also, the energy level of your body when you are standing up is completely different than the one when you are sitting. Standing up makes you more energetic and alert. As a result, your brain thinks faster and your creativity increases. Have an Inspiration Room in the Office: Make an inspiration room different than any other rooms in the office so when your employees want to take a break or need some inspiration, they can go to this room and refresh their minds. Also, make this room social so your employees can gather together and have a lunch or coffee break. It is best to decorate this room in an innovative design to reflect that creative feeling so you may want to work with an interior designer for this.

Jayne Mattson Teaches Relationship-Building [Podcast] - Career Pivot

Jayne Mattson Teaches Relationship-Building [Podcast] - Career Pivot Key Takeaways: Pocast# 153 â€" Marc Miller interviews You, You, Me, You author Jayne Mattson on networking and building relationships. Description: Jayne Mattson is a career management expert and author with deep experience in the corporate and private business sectors. She is also an accomplished facilitator, trainer, and coach. Jayne is known for inspiring and motivating individuals to explore career options and to help them build sustainable confidence. She helps mid-career professionals, providing guidance and services that help them take charge of their careers. Jayne partners with the Boston Young Professional Association, writing articles for their blog on career-related topics. She is a frequent writer/contributor on career-related topics to CareerBuilder, Monster, CIO, Mashable, and other sites as well as print publications, including The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. Jayne recently published a book, You, You, Me, You: The Art of Talking to People, Networking and Building Relationships. A strong believer in giving back, Jayne volunteers as a confidence coach with the Budget Buddies, a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization that is focused on improving the financial literacy of low-income women.Marc is asking for your financial support for the Repurpose Your Career podcast. Please donate at Glow.fm/repurposeyourcareer to support this Podcast. Key Takeaways: [1:14] Marc welcomes you to Episode 153 of the Repurpose Your Career podcast. [1:28] If you are enjoying this podcast, please share it with other like-minded souls. Subscribe on CareerPivot.com, iTunes, or any of the other apps that supply podcasts. Share it on social media or just tell your neighbors and colleagues. The more people Marc reaches, the more people he can help. [1:47] After three years of doing the Repurpose Your Career podcast it is time for a change. Marc talks about the financial concerns around the podcast and Marc’s Career Pivot business. [3:04] A couple of weeks ago, Marc posted about “A Redesigned and Refocused Career Pivot After Attack.” He discussed the website and why he recently changed it. [3:17] Because the business no longer supports the costs of production, Marc is making changes. Marc will eliminate the time-stamped podcast show notes with a detailed write-up of the show. About half of Marc’s listeners read the show notes. Marc will provide dramatically reduced notes. [3:43] Marc acknowledges the production work of Podfly Productions, as he transitions the Repurpose Your Career podcast to in-house production. Marc recommends using the Podfly team if you want to start your own podcast! [4:04] Marc will move to scheduling an episode every other week instead of the weekly schedule he has kept for three years. If Marc gets ahead on episodes over the next few months, he may revert to a weekly schedule. [4:27] Marc will not publish an episode the week of U.S. Thanksgiving and will probably produce two episodes in December. On January 6th, 2020 Marc will start the regular biweekly schedule. [4:44] If you would like to financially support this show, please go to Glow.fm/repurposeyourcareer/ to give. This link will be at the top of the show notes at CareerPivot.com/episode-153. Marc received the first donation this week â€" a one-time donation of $60.00 that will cover three months of podcast hosting services. Thank you! [5:13] Next week’s episode will be an interview with returning guest John Tarnoff. John just published a LinkedIn Learning Online course, Connecting With Your Millennial Manager. Marc thinks it is incredibly well-done. We may all work sometime for a Millennial Manager. [5:43] In this week’s episode, Marc interviews Jayne Mattson. Marc shares her bio. Marc hopes you enjoy this episode. Now on to the podcast… Download Link | iTunes|Stitcher Radio|Google Podcast| Podbean | TuneIn | Overcast [7:06] Marc welcomes Jayne Mattson to the Repurpose Your Career podcast. [7:47] Jayne gives the background on how she decided to write You, You, Me, You. As a career management consultant, she determined that she needed to focus on teaching people how to build relationships rather than how to network. People were not learning about the other person. She started to teach the principles of you, you, me, and you. [9:25] People who are in transition or looking for another job need relationships. Relationships are more about the other person. Also, in the world of selfies, Jayne suggests you focus away from yourself and focus more on other people. These concerns provided Jayne the impetus to write a book about them. [10:21] Marc’s networking goal is to start with the attitude, ‘How can I help other people?’ If he can help them, that’s great. He expects nothing in return. Jayne notes that people often expect networking to provide contacts, but contacts are earned, not given carelessly. There are many aspects of true relationship-building. [11:16] Marc also notes that when you focus on the other person, you are more likable. In her book, Jayne refers to a couple of individuals who were influential in her career: Dale Carnegie and her father. Jayne’s father gave her Dale Carnegie’s book when she was 15. He told her, “If you read this book, you will always be successful.” [11:55] Because of her father, Jayne read How to Win Friends Influence People every year. Dale Carnegie’s principles are all about making the other person feel more special than you. Jayne has practiced that throughout her life and she has been successful. [12:27] Jayne explains and role-plays the ‘you, you, me, you’ conversation in a networking situation. The point is to show that you are more interested in the other person than in your own interest. Show appreciation of their time, say why you are there, then close by thanking them for their time and looking forward to staying in touch. [14:30] Networking is about soliciting help from other people along the way who are going to help you in your career endeavor. You want to be memorable to them when they think about a job opening. [15:05] Most people in Austin have moved there. Marc would always ask “How did you get to Austin?” Everyone had a story. Marc would keep digging down with questions until he found something they had in common. Marc used standard questions that revealed a pattern. [15:53] Jayne shares a networking experience she had with an introvert who read Jayne’s book before meeting her and came prepared with questions about what she had read in the book so she showed her interest. Always be curious and genuine. Don’t sound like you’re checking questions off a list. It will show. [16:52] As you ask questions you will find commonality and ease your way into the conversation. If you show you are willing to help them, they will also be willing to help you. [17:20] The ‘you, you, me, you’ concept is about building relationships. Jayne talks about the different stages of relationship-building in the book: Initiating it, developing rapport, and establishing the relationship. The most important concept is sustainability. Stay informed and connected to them, through LinkedIn or even hand-written notes. [18:49] As you build relationships, practice the steps in the book with people with whom you are already comfortable. Eventually, it will become a habit and you will see people reacting to you in a more genuine collaborative way. It will be a connection of the heart. [19:30] Marc’s friend, Thom Singer, a public speaker, suggests writing a hand-written card and sticking your business card in it. [20:03] Jayne recommends, especially to young people, to get personalized stationery. When you send a note, your name will always be at the top, to remind them who you are and how you met. You want them to remember your name. [21:32] Jayne says, no matter how bad your handwriting is, people will notice that you took the thought and effort to send a personal note. [22:36] Jayne makes a point of explaining the ‘y’ in her name. It makes her memorable. [23:13] Marc takes a break from the interview to talk about the Career Pivot Membership Community, which continues to help the approximately 50 members who are participating in the beta phase of this project to grow and thrive. [23:27] Marc reads a member testimonial from community member Cleo: “I joined the Career Pivot Community as a frustrated over-60 job seeker looking for some support and I did find that in this group. [23:40] “Marc is wise in the ways of self-analysis, job search, and small business and is able to help encourage and poke group members to find meaningful work. I have improved my online presence and reputation, found freelance work, established a path to future employment that makes sense. [24:00] “You get out of the community what you put into it. If you engage regularly, you will find people with a wide range of skills who are more than willing to support and advise other community members and you can gain inspiration seeing what they achieve.” Marc wants you to see that it’s not just Marc, it’s the community. [24:25] This is a paid membership community where Marc offers group coaching, special content, mastermind groups, branding sessions, Slack channels, and more importantly, it’s a community where you can seek help. Please go to CareerPivot.com/Community to sign up to learn more. [24:45] Marc asks Jayne about sticky situations, such as not knowing how to extract yourself from a conversation. Work with how you feel about people, in general. If you look at them unfavorably, you may unthinkingly dismiss someone rudely. If you remember that everyone has a story to tell, you may be more gentle breaking it off. [25:54] Jayne suggests a positive script for bringing a long conversation to a close when you need to move on. Treat people with respect and dignity. Make sure not to offend. You never know how this person will come into your life again. [27:08] Jayne gives an example of a person who needs to develop a rapport with a client but also needs to let the client know that what they did was inappropriate. You need good communication skills while developing and maintaining a relationship. [27:51] Jayne talks about the reach of social media. Practice the same principles on social media. On LinkedIn, you can like someone’s post, comment on it, and share it. That is giving back to the person with whom you want to build a relationship. [28:35] Jayne talks about how she connected with Kerry Hannon on LinkedIn and is maintaining a great online relationship with her after first hearing and admiring her on Marc’s podcast. [29:05] On Facebook or Instagram, as you connect with people, don’t make it just pitches about you. Make sure you have something valuable to say. Jayne also encourages people to spend less time on social media and pick up your phone for a conversation with someone. When you post on social media, help others. [30:06] If you live near someone, invite them offline to meet in person. [30:22] On LinkedIn, Jayne answers requests for connections with a request first to know more about what that person does. Jayne does not want clicks, she wants a personal introduction that can start more of a relationship. [30:54] Marc talks about his book team. His co-author, Susan Lahey, now lives in Porto, Portugal. His book cover designer, MamiSerwaa, now lives in Ghana. They do most of their talking over the phone through Facebook Messenger. Marc calls them from Mexico. [31:32] Younger generations may not know what to say on the phone. You start by finding common interests. Jayne is planning a local “Conversation Saturday” for middle schoolers of how to have conversations over the phone or in person, instead of by text. We are human and we need socialization. [33:21] Marc includes some advice from his Multigenerational Workplace talk. If I want you to listen to me, I have to adapt to your preferred communication style. Boomers liked to be talked to. Millennials like to be texted. [34:30] Jayne follows Lindsey Pollak on LinkedIn. Lindsey Pollak wrote Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace on this topic. It is important to be adaptable and resilient. The ‘you, you, me, you’ concept is memorable and easy to use for any generation. [35:39] Jayne’s closing advice to the audience is we, collectively, have a responsibility to each other, to the people around us, not to use our cell phones while we are with someone. Be with the person in front of you. Jayne wrote this into her book, and she recommends that you buy the book for young people. Don’t lose the human touch. [36:55] Jayne wants us to come back to face-to-face conversations. Use the ‘you, you, me, you’ concept to build relationships. Look people in the eye. Say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” [37:45] You can reach Jayne Mattson on LinkedIn. She doesn’t connect with people who just send a request. Tell her why you want to connect with her and tell her about your relationship-building skills. You can follow Jayne Mattson on Instagram. [38:16] You can order You, You, Me, You: The Art of Talking to People, Networking and Building Relationships on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and in 2020, in Audible. [38:37] Marc shares that he is about to produce the third edition of Repurpose Your Career in audiobook. Marc thanks Jayne for being on the Repurpose Your Career podcast. [38:56] Marc hopes you enjoyed that episode. Marc has known Jayne for a number of years. Jayne is passionate about networking and helping people. [39:08] The career Pivot Membership Community continues to help the approximately 50 members who are participating in the Beta phase of this project to grow and thrive. This is a community where everyone is there to help everyone else. Marc has just brought in a cohort and he is recruiting new members for the next cohort. [39:23] If you are interested in the Career Pivot Membership Community and would like to be put on a waiting list, please go to CareerPivot.com/Community. [39:36] Marc invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn.com/in/mrmiller. Just include in the connection request that you listen to this podcast. You can look for Career Pivot on Facebook, LinkedIn, or @CareerPivot on Twitter. [39:48] Please come back next week when Marc will interview John Tarnoff, author of the LinkedIn Learning course Connecting with Your Millennial Manager! [39:47] Please support the Repurpose Your Career podcast by going to Glow.fm/repurposeyourcareer. This link is also at the top of the show notes. [40:21] Please hop over to CareerPivot.com and subscribe to get updates on this podcast and all the other happenings at Career Pivot. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, the Google Podcasts app, Podbean, the Overcast app, or the Spotify app and soon to be on Pandora! Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

6 Ways To Stop Feeling Stuck in the Corporate Life Right Now - Cubicle Chic

6 Ways To Stop Feeling Stuck in the Corporate Life Right Now - Cubicle Chic 6 Ways To Stop Feeling Stuck in the Corporate Life Right Now Career, Corporate Life August 22, 2017 13 CommentsMaggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118How has  the new gig been, you ask? I’m not going to sugarcoat it… It’s been hard coming back to the 9-5 routine after a 4-month hiatus. Don’t get me wrong, the new social media role is engaging, challenging, and making me learn new things almost daily. It’s everything I could’ve hoped for in this new job. But during my time off earlier this year, I’ve gotten a taste of the flexibility freelancing offers and the cubicle life just isn’t the same anymore. The commute, the traffic, the meetings, and the lack of personal time sometimes make me feel stuck in the corporate life. I catch myself wishing there were more hours in the day so I can dedicate more time to blogging, exercising, gardening, and just living…However, this is the life I’ve intentionally chosen to embrace again and without it, I couldn’t possibly write a blog called Cubicle Chic, could I?So, to continually find energy, motivation, and intentions in my day-to-day and not feel stuck in the corporate life, I’ve developed a series of healthy habits, or, should I say, rituals. Here are 6 things you could do everyday to prevent feeling stuck in the corporate life:1. Reframe the problem of “feeling stuck”First, start shifting your frame of mind when it comes to feeling stuck in the corporate life. This is a new concept I’ve learned from a book I am reading now called Designing Your Life, How to Build a Well Lived, Joyful Life. In the book, the authors Bill Burnett Dave Evans talk about the issue of fixating on “gravity problems”. The example they gave is people feeling stuck on things that they have no power to change â€" the building they work out of, their manager’s temperament, their salary (to an extent), etc. Instead, if we accept things like we accept gravity, we can shift our focus onto other things that we CAN improve.Another thing the authors recommend people do is to keep a Good Time Journal (download their free worksheet and try it yourself). By doing so, you are consciously monitoring what activities engage you and put you in the zone, and what activities drain your energy. If you can intentionally manage your day knowing how to fuel your energy tank with the right kind of activities, and organize your day around things that engage you, you can avoid that numb, frazzled, and exhausted feeling that we all feel too often past 5PM.2. Meditate with the Headspace appIt’s 2017 and even corporations are embracing meditation as a productivity hack. Some even consider it a team sport. But truthfully, I’ve tried to get into meditation and failed countless times. But it doesn’t stop me from trying to acquire the habit of doing it, only because I’ve gotten a glimpse of the kind of ZEN your mind could enjoy if you learn to put your mind at ease voluntarily. With meditation, you can calm the thoughts that haunt your mind, and focus on the things th at you want it to focus on.The ever-so-popular app Headspace makes the practice of meditation so much more manageable and accessible. In one of the first sessions, Andy Puddicombe talks about being “present” in an unpleasant activity. Take sitting in traffic for example. What this means is, instead of wishing I was somewhere else and NOT in traffic, I choose to be present when I AM stuck in traffic. Whether I choose to spend the time in quietness, listen to my favorite podcasts/tunes, or talk to a friend on the phone, I don’t resist the fact that I am in traffic. And I just accept it and stay present in it.A lot of times, it’s the act of resisting your condition that amplifies the unpleasantness of it.If we learn the art of accepting a less-than-perfect condition, stay in control, and choose how we want to feel, then we can dictate how uncomfortable or comfortable we are.Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $1183. Start your day by doing something you loveThis is a proven method a lot of entrepreneurs and business leaders do to increase their productivity.Imagine if you had one extra hour every day to do what you love to do and something you always wished you had more time to do. Be it exercising, reading, walking your dog, watching your favorite TV show, tending to your garden, drawing, or painting, or cleaning. Now set your alarm clock one hour earlier, and voila, you have your magical, extra hour in the day!Of course, if you want to maintain the same level of sleep, you would need to go to bed one hour early. The practice here is to make sure you get to do what you love doing every day within the first hour of the day.Since you already dedicated an hour to what you love doing, you won’t go on with your day thinking about what you wish you were doing… because you already did it!Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $1184. Develop a ritual that lifts you upFor me, this is watering my plants in the office and checking on them every day. Seeing how they are doing every day makes me look forward to the start of the day more. For others, it could be brewing a pot of the exotic coffee you got last month, or brewing your favorite tea at the moment, or bringing in donuts one day of the week to share with your coworkers, or tearing off one page of the funny cat daily calendar … you get the point.Find these little moments that give you a small dosage of joyfulness that makes you look forward to being in the office.After all, a ton of research points toward the fact that it’s the small things that make us happy.Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $1185. Remind yourself why you workIt’s okay if your primary motivation to work is to make money. It’s a lot of people’s number 1 reason. Just know that #4 on this list doesn’t work that well for you if money is why you work.I’ve had the luxury of taking a substantial (4 months) break from working. What I discovered during the 4 months was that I have options. I can cho ose not to work. I can choose who I want to work for. I can choose what I want to do. So, when I came back to work, I had a strong conviction that marketing is what I want to do as a profession. I knew that my motivation is fueled by always learning new things, teaching people how to improve, and seeing positive results from marketing activities.Whenever I question why I decided to spend 8 hours at work and 2 hours in traffic every day, which trust me, I do… I remind myself that it was my decision to come back to work and this is exactly where I want to be.Maggie London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118  6. Remember your friends (contact old friends or make new friends)Friends make work more fun, period. So many articles have been written and research was done to show the importance of developing strong friendships at work. Here’s a quick list by Business Insider of things you can do with coworkers to make the office environment more enjoyable with friends.Also, finding time to cr aft a well-thought-out email to tell an old friend you miss them, and that you miss the good ole times is also a good way to bring in a sense of camaraderie or community into your immediate surrounding.  And also because this:          Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

A Mothers Day tribute -

A Mothers Day tribute - In honor of Mothers Day, I dedicate this post in memory of my mom. Few people doubt the important role mothers serve. A book by Stephan Poulter, The Mother Factor: How Your Mother’s Emotional Legacy Impacts Your Life, suggests that “There may be a direct link between our career success and our mothers.” (Hat tip, Anita Bruzzese.) Alexandra Levit blogged about Anita’s post about our mothers’ influence on career success: The book’s thesis is that, whether we acknowledge it or not, our mothers leave an indelible impression on the people we become. Our ability to function in personal and professional relationships is based on our mothers’ “styles.” Poulter defines the five major styles of mothering as: * The Perfectionist Mother: whose family must look perfect in every way. * The Unpredictable Mother: whose ups and downs can create lifelong anxiety and depression in her son or daughter. * The “Me First” Mother: whose children come second or last. * The “Best Friend” Mother: who’s now in vogue but can wreak havoc. * The Complete Mother: who provides guidance and shows compassion to her child. For example, if your mother was a perfectionist, then you might have difficulty taking feedback at work. “Ninety five percent of the time it’s your emotional history spilling into the present,” Poulter says. If this research is correct, I am even more lucky than I thought to have had such an encouraging, supportive, caring and giving mom. My mom was exceptional and unique in many ways. She had high standards for herself and others. She taught me to believe in myself, to set goals and work hard to achieve them. She was instrumental in helping me develop my soft skills, including writing, communication and common sense. My mom demonstrated a strong work ethic and instilled that ethic, along with a can-do attitude that supports me to this day. I am so appreciative to have had that foundation upon which to build my life and career. I am so gratefulI continue to realize how much my mom taught me the longer she is gone. I think about her on Mothers Day and every day. photo by foxrosser